Ear-wire catch for ear-rings



T. T I R R B M R S d o M 0 w EARWIRE CATCH FOR EAR RINGS. 'No. 326,135

Patented Sept. 15,1885.

INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL F. MERRITT, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

EAR-WIRE CATCH FOR EAR-RINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,135. dated September 15, 1885.

Application filed November 17, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. MERRITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ear-Wire Catches for Ear- Rings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ear-wire catches for ear ornaments, the object being to provide improved locking-hooks for attaching ear-rings and like ornamental objects to the cars, which are adapted to remain locked thereon, and obviate the danger of becoming accidentally detached.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is an enlarged perspective View of an ear ornament provided with devices for securing it to the ear, constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. l, but showing a sect on of the lobe of the ear in connection with the ornament, Fig. 3 shows the outlines of an ear.

and illustrates the position in which the ornament is held thereon. manner of arranging the catch for use in connection with settings for diamonds and similar ornaments.

In the drawings, a is the face or ornamental part of the ear-ring, and in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 represents a cameo. In this construction the ear-wire catch is provided with a metallic or other suitable base, 0, to which the face can be secured, and which constitutes a suitable part upon which to attach the ear wire.

The ear-wire catch consists of a metallic hook, d, hinged to the base 0 at m, and having its lower end terminate near the lower end of the ear-ring, and of a catch-wire, e, hinged to the base 0 at at, near the lower end thereof. The catch-wire 6 has a fork, f, at its upper end, a hook, I), at its lower part, and in Fig. 1 it is provided wit-h an upwardly-projecting short arm, w, at the hinge 0c. The object of the arm to is, by coming to a bearing against base a above the hinge, to stop the upward swing of the wire e at a certain point and prevent it from being crowded inconveniently against the ear when the hook d is brought over its upper end and engaged in the hook b,

Fig. 4 illustrates the as in Fig. 1. By this means the forked end of wire e presents more or less resistance against the hook d when the end of the latter is caught in hook b, and thereby contributes to prevent the end of hook d from becoming accidentally disengaged.

The ear-wire is attached to the car by disengaging the end of hook at from hook I), then swinging the wire 6 downward. Thus the latter is out of the way, and the hook d can be easily passed through the ear. The wire 6 is then swung up behind the ear and hook d is brought over and secured, as shown in Fig. 2, in the hook b. Fig. 2 shows clearly the position of the parts when secured to the car it, representing a section of the ear-lobe.

In Fig. 5 the ring n, in which the stone y is set, constitutes the base, as does 0 in Fig. l, and the hook d and wire 6 are hinged to said ring in the same manner and relation that they are to the base a in Fig. 1. a

It is obvious that the upper end of the wire 6 may be provided with some other than a fork-shaped form without departing from this invention, it being requisite to so arrange that end of wire e that the hook d will be retained thereon, as shown. I

I am aware that previous to my invention a catch for the ear-wire which extended under the lobe of the ear and embraced the earwire behind the lobe had been known. In my construction I pivot both the catch and the ear-wire independently, by which convenience in application to and removal from the ear is attained.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In combination with an ornament, a wire hook hinged to the upper portion thereof, and

a forked catch for said hook hinged to the lower portion thereof, substantially as described.

2. In combination with an ornament, a hook hinged to the upper portion thereof, and a forked catch hinged to the lower portion thereof, said catch having a short arm, w, above the hinge to bear against the base-plate of the ornament, substantially as described.

. SAMUEL F. MERRITT.

Witnesses:

J. D. GARFIELD, H. A. CHAPIN. 

